With an enviable problem of plenty at their disposal, Pakistan have an endless supply of all-rounders to build their ODI middle order.
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Pakistan’s top three – Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam – occupy three of the first four slots in the ICC ODI batting ranking. For the first two wickets, Pakistan have put on 56.79 runs per wicket since 2022, the highest among all teams.
In 2023, only two wicketkeepers – Shai Hope and Mushfiqur Rahim – have more runs than Mohammad Rizwan’s 433 at an average higher than his 54.12. Pakistan’s top four are, thus, settled, and they also accommodate their gloveman.
In Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf, they have three outstanding fast bowlers. Despite Shaheen’s, and even Naseem’s, batting abilities, they are likely to bat at nine, ten, and jack.
That leaves them with four slots – five to eight. And for that, they have a near-endless supply of all-rounders to pick from.
Shadab Khan (vice-captain)
Perhaps the only guaranteed pick of the all-rounders, and not because he is the vice-captain. Instrumental to Pakistan’s ascent towards the top of the ICC rankings, Shadab has the numbers (average 41, strike rate 113) of a specialist batter since the start of 2022, and can bat anywhere in the line-up.
But he also bowls leg-breaks – good enough to have taken more than a wicket a match and kept the runs to 5.07 an over. The fielding is a bonus.
Salman Agha
Salman’s batting numbers since 2022 (44 and 103) are comparable to Shadab’s, but a plethora of all-rounders has prevented Pakistan from using his off-breaks for more than four overs a match over the period. However, the Asia Cup and the World Cup in the subcontinent will have some slow, low pitches, where he may be needed more than that, particularly in the middle overs.
Iftikhar Ahmed
Yet another batter with similar numbers (45 and 102) since 2022, Iftikhar has demonstrated his ability to explode without being set in both limited-overs formats. Just like Salman, he bowls off-breaks, but seldom bowls his full quota. Pakistan may play both and still have their three fast bowlers, Shadab, and another all-rounder.
Faheem Ashraf
When Pakistan recalled Faheem to the squad after two years despite him not having played List A cricket since March 2022, chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq backed him because “the squad doesn’t have another fast-bowling all-rounder.”
In the Afghanistan series, Faheem played only the ‘dead-rubber’ match, where he took new ball with Shaheen in the absence of Naseem and Rauf, and took two quick wickets. Pakistan probably needed to test their just-in-case seam-bowling all-rounder before a testing 50 days.
Mohammad Wasim
Inzamam considering Faheem the only of his ilk was slightly baffling, for Mohammad Wasim averages 24.20 for his 24 ODI wickets. He has batted only seven times in ODIs, but has a List A batting average (19.38) higher than Faheem’s 15.12.
Wasim did not play any of the ODIs against Afghanistan despite having better numbers. He has somehow slipped down the ladder despite having played more ODIs than anyone barring the top four batters and Rauf since the start of 2022. Faheem is likely to play ahead of him.
Mohammad Nawaz
Since the start of 2022, no Pakistani spinner has a better bowling average than Nawaz’s 29.88, while his economy (4.62) is the best (even if one includes seamers). Unlike most others in this list, Nawaz is essentially a spinner who can bat a bit.
However, kept out of the Afghanistan series, he is unlikely to start unless the pitch offers assistance to spinners. Then, he may get the nod ahead of the seam-bowling all-rounder.
Usama Mir
Mir’s eight ODIs have yielded 11 wickets – a reflection of his 48-match List A career where he has struck 74 times. He can also hit sixes, but is likely to spend the two major tournaments as Shadab’s injury cover: very few teams feature two leg-spinners in an ODI XI.
Saud Shakeel
Saud’s excellent run in Test cricket earned him a call-up in the ODI side despite him not having played List A cricket since March 2022. He will miss the Asia Cup, and his excellent batting and left-arm spin may earn him a call-up to the squad only if one, perhaps two, of Shadab, Iftikhar, and Salman are injured.
